Helping preemies meet milestones
When it comes to kids, it seems like there is a developmental
checklist for everything. Is your child walking
too soon? Is she speaking clearly at the right age? But for
parents like Monique Hester and Joseph Silvis, whose
son Andrew was born at only one pound and one ounce,
the concerns are very real.
Preemies have a higher risk of medical and developmental
disorders. With this in mind, Virtua's neonatal
follow-up program evaluates babies like Andrew every
three months up to two years.
This assessment identifies subtle developmental
differences that are common in preemies, but can go
unnoticed during routine exams. "For example, preemies
may arch their backs when placed on their bellies,"
explains Virtua neonatologist Mirye Kim, MD.
"Although parents sometimes see this as good head
control, it can be caused by weakened trunk muscles
and may require therapy."
Toys and games that measure a baby's strength,
dexterity and fine motor skills are used as part of the
assessment. "Toys with noise, for example, can show
us if a baby is responding to sound in the proper way,"
says Dr. Kim.
Dr. Kim also teaches parents what to look for in
cognitive and language development. "Communication
begins long before a child's first words," she explains. "Parents should alert us if a child is not meeting milestones
for two-way communication." From birth to 6
months, they should look at faces; from 12 to 18
months, they should point or gesture to express themselves;
by age 2 they should use two word sentences.
Early intervention
Since children's brains are pliable, identifying delays
and intervening when necessary means earlier
improvement. "If a delay is identified, we determine
the necessary intervention," explains Virtua pediatric
neurologist Michael Goodman, MD.
The neurologic examination may be supplemented
with tests to check for seizure activity and brain
irregularities. "Children with underlying conditions
require treatment by a pediatric neurologist," says
Dr. Goodman. "But therapy is really the key to
helping all children fulfill their potential."
Through Virtua's Early Intervention Program,
children up to age 3 with developmental delays
receive individualized, family-centered care including
physical, occupational, and speech therapy as well
as educational and social support.
At 13 months, Andrew continues to impress mom
and dad by meeting his developmental milestones.
"Great things really do come in small packages,"
says Hester.
5 tips to encourage development
While premature babies need extra support, an environment that encourages growth is important
for all babies. Try these simple strategies to help your baby develop:
- Avoid always holding baby in the same arm: This can lead to asymmetrical muscle tone.
- Encourage belly time: Start with two to three minutes and gradually increase
time as baby's comfort grows.
- Limit devices like walkers that encourage baby to stand on his toes:
Instead, create a safe environment for baby to explore by crawling
or walking unassisted.
- Talk to baby regularly: Start with simple words to describe
daily activities. As baby begins to talk, expand on what she
is saying to show enthusiasm.
- Remember that checklists are only guidelines:
And for preemies, always use baby's
"adjusted age." For example, a 1-year-old
born three months early should be
compared to a 9-month-old.